In 1754 English cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale published a book of furniture designs  based on ancient Greek rules for balance and proportion. Chippendale's book was widely distributed throughout the American colonies. In Virginia cabinetmakers simplified Chippendale's designs to suit the restrained tastes of  18th century Virginians. This style variation  became known as "the neat and plain manner."  

This plain style, with its lack of ornamentation, must rely  on clean lines, crisp details, and graceful proportions for it's beauty.  This reliance on the bare essentials of design requires a bold commitment on the part of the designer. If his proportions are off, there is no ornamentation to hide the awkwardness of his mistake.

Less is More

This brings to mind a concept that  Mr. Case was taught 30 years ago as a freshman design student,
Less is More. The concept has been the guiding influence in his career as a designer/craftsman. It is the reason that he has continually turned to the “neat and plain” furniture of 18th century Virginia for inspiration.  The plain style with its emphasis on good proportions and lack of ornament fits today’s lifestyle perfectly.

Beyond a lifetime

Today mass produced furniture is designed mostly  by engineers who lack the artistic eye to determine good proportion from bad. Ease of manufacturing takes precedent over aesthetics when they make design decisions. Crisp details are avoided so no hand fitting of parts is necessary. The  results can be seen in your typical furniture store. This lack of sensitivity to design  throughout the furniture industry is  what allows Samuel S. Case Cabinetmakers to exist and succeed.

We have found our niche in the market - the client with sophisticated taste that cannot be satisfied with standard furniture store fare.  When questioned, most of our clients tell us that our distinctive plain style and clean lined design are the primary reasons for selecting our furniture.  Many of them are not antique collectors, but they recognize that our classic antique  designs will never go out of style. It is a style that will remain a symbol of good taste  years after furniture that once was avant-garde has become hopelessly dated. What our clients do have in common with antique collectors is their buying habits. Many  of our clients  buy one piece at a time, adding to their collection one or two times a year. They sense that a collection of our furniture will appreciate in value over a lifetime. That possibility influences everything we do. We design and build our furniture  with the intention that it will last for generations beyond the lifetime of the original purchaser. We brand, sign, and date  every piece we build, not only to insure authenticity and future appreciation in value, but to document the legacy of the men and women who create it.